PRESS STATEMENT BY ST VINCENT OPPOSITION PARTY
St Vincent and the Grenadines, continues to struggle under the ever-rising crime crisis while Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and the ULP remain willfully blind and indifferent.
The recent incidents in which a policeman in uniform was robbed at gunpoint, close to a police station in Stubbs, and the robbery of the Minister of Agriculture’s wife at her home, sent a clear message that no one is safe from crime here in SVG.
Additionally, the armed robbery of a school child of her cell phone and money in the area of Block 2000, the attempted armed robbery of Elvin Edwards’ shop in Mc Kies Hill, the robbery of a fruit vendor in the area of the Nurses Hostel and the attempted armed robbery at Black Rose bar in Arnos Vale, have reinforced the fear and insecurity that many Vincentians feel.
The refusal by Dr. Gonsalves to accept that there is a crime crisis in the country and his constant attempts to provide academic analysis as excuses, all points to the bankruptcy of the ULP in governance. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and the ULP have not only lost touch with the reality of Vincentian people’s lives, but are now, undoubtedly bankrupt of practical ideas and strategies and have abdicated their responsibility to provide security to the Vincentian people.
We call on Dr. Gonsalves, as the Minister of National Security, to formally address the nation on plans to deal with the ever worsening crime situation in St Vincent and the Grenadines. The continuation of this trend will undoubtedly stymie the development of this nation and worsen joblessness among our youths.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines – Land of the blessed – is fast declining into a land of fear and insecurity where law abiding citizens look at everyone with suspicion. Nevertheless, we urge our people to remain vigilant, resilient and hopeful.
The NDP again reiterate its willingness to work with the government and other organizations to address the problem. As Vincentians who love our country, only a united and collaborative effort will succeed in combating the national crisis of crime and violence in SVG.
We again implore anyone with information that might assist the police in their investigations to provide it to the police and we call on the police to redouble their efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice, and to resolve other unsolved violent crimes in our country.
